The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken a significant step towards justice by handing over documents of properties and 324 houses recovered for Kano State pensioners.
This development stems from a thorough investigation conducted by the EFCC into the misappropriation of pension funds amounting to N4.1 billion in Kano State. The funds were contributed by pensioners with the intention of owning houses, which were unjustly denied to them by two successive administrations in the state.
According to Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, the handover of the houses follows a final forfeiture order granted by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Oyewale emphasized that the investigation was prompted by a petition from Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners.
The EFCC’s findings revealed that the pension funds were supposed to contribute to the construction of housing estates worth an aggregate sum of N41 billion. However, the contributions of the pensioners were diverted, leading to the construction of houses in three estates in Kano State. These houses were then fraudulently discounted and sold to associates of two former governors of the state.
Upon completion of its investigation, the EFCC successfully obtained a final forfeiture order for the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees. Adeniyi Adebayo, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, assured continued efforts by the agency to combat fraudulent practices in the nation.